New York Private Bank & Turst Chair, President & CEO Howard Milstein, a billionaire who has "vast real estate holdings in New York," is the latest individual to announce an interest in buying the Bills, according to Scott Brown of Buffalo-based WGRZ-NBC. A source said that if Milstein's bid is "successful, he would 'definitely' keep the team in Western New York." He previously bid on the Browns "when they were an expansion team" and the Redskins "when they were up for sale in the late" '90s. Milstein was a co-owner of the Islanders from '98-'00 before the team was sold to Charles Wang. The source said that Milstein will talk with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo "in the near future about his interest in the Bills." Another source said that Milstein would "finance his bid for the Bills totally on his own without any partners" (WGRZ.com, 5/1). Erie County Deputy Exec Richard Tobe has said that he has been "approached by as many as 10 groups interested in the Bills." The AP's John Wawrow noted Milstein "controls an undeveloped 142-acre plot of land in downtown Niagara Falls that has been mentioned as a potential site for a new Bills stadium." However, Milstein's tenure with the Islanders was "filled with controversy over the conditions" of Nassau Coliseum. Ownership also "alienated the fan base by threatening to move the Islanders and openly discussing having the team play some home games in other arenas." Meanwhile, Milstein in '99 "withdrew a bid to purchase the Redskins after failing to get support from a majority of NFL owners." Some owners said that he was "using too much borrowed money to finance the deal" (AP, 5/1).
